Sorry guys, no Flotsam and Jetsam or 4arm setlists. I think the former played Ugly Noise, but I can't be sure. Merch for both coheadlining bands are $25 for shirts, $10 for an Overkill patch or keychain and $15 for a backpatch, $5 for Testament patches (the artwork for Dark Roots of Earth, Souls of Black, The New Order, and Testament logos were offered), $20 beanies, and $45 or $50 hoodies. I don't remember the price, but there were wristbands, Gene Hoglan DVDs and autographed drumsticks, baseball shirts, and bottle openers available too.

I started the evening off a few minutes after the doors opened thanks to some douchebag who thinks it's a good idea to keep braking when a light is green.

ANYWAY, I met up with a friend of mine I met at a Dethklok concert and spent the majority of the evening with him and two other people. Shortly after, 4arm went on to a decent response. There was headbanging and fists thrown, but nothing else aside from that. I can't seem to remember too much of their music, but I did like it...

After them, Flotsam and Jetsam went on...damn. They were one of the best bands I've seen opening for a thrash show, and I really dug their work, even though I hadn't heard a note from these guys before the show. The only way I knew Ugly Noise was played was because I wound up searching Google for the lyrics. F&J played some slower groovy shit along with some fast, hard shit that got the pit moving violently through the night. My friend wound up hitting his head and I didn't realize it until I saw him wandering aimlessly after their set. I wound up spending all but the last two songs of Overkill's set watching over him to make sure he was okay (and he was - no serious stuff went on, thankfully). I also remember feeling sorry for their lead guitarist since all his high notes were buried under the bass and the drums.

From what I did see of Overkill though, was great. They brought some serious energy and got the pit flying, leading to me nearly losing my shoe during Elimination, and according to my friend, they played a Misfits cover, but I didn't catch the name. Right after Fuck You, Bobby called us "San Antonio" and "Dallas" as a way to get us to say the name of the song. I thought that was pretty cool.

Overkill

Come and Get It
Rotten to the Core
Wrecking Crew
Bring Me the Night
Electric Rattlesnake
Infectious
Ironbound
Elimination
Fuck You

Testament came on a little later and slaughtered. I was surprised to see Gene Hoglan behind the kit, since (if I recall correctly), he wasn't going to be doing shit with Testament as a member. This time, Chuck seemed to be fond of making speeches: before Native Blood, Chuck spoke about his Native brothers in the audience (I'm half Cherokee, so it stuck out to me), after 3 Days of Darkness, he talked about how we survived 2012 and shit like that, and before Into the Pit, he mentioned how he told us before (at Anthrax in 2011) how the song was written for "all the crazy people out in the audience". Yeah. Crazy people. One of them tried to rip my arm out (and nearly dislocated it). That was fun.

Anyway, the show seemed to end abruptly after The Formation of Damnation. It felt like something was...missing - and it didn't help that they didn't play Over the Wall, Souls of Black or Killing Season.

After the show, I escorted my friend out and went home. I felt too shitty to bother with trying to meet the band, and to be honest, I'm still feeling kind of bad.

...I think I'm gonna go lie down.

Testament

Rise Up
More Than Meets the Eye
Burnt Offerings
Native Blood
True American Hate
Dark Roots of Earth
Into the Pit
Practice What You Preach
Riding the Snake
Eyes of Wrath
Trial By Fire
The Haunting
The New Order
D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
3 Days of Darkness
The Formation of Damnation

I wonder why they dropped Over the Wall. It looks like they only played it on the first date of this tour. That should be permanent in the set... I'd figure they would drop 3 Days of Darkness once 2012 ended. Still a killer set though.

I wonder why they dropped Over the Wall. It looks like they only played it on the first date of this tour. That should be permanent in the set... I'd figure they would drop 3 Days of Darkness once 2012 ended. Still a killer set though.

Down For Life would be a sweet addition. Good to see that Testament didn't cut anything once Flotsam joined. Were you in the pit all night? Cause that shit sounds miserable. The last time I saw Testament headline (2009) and last year when I saw them play with Anthrax the crowd wasn't too bad on the rail. A little movement, and I'm fine with that, but I hope I'm not dealing with a ton of mouth-breathing apes at my show.

Testament needs to take out 3 Days In Darkness and add another new song. Either A Day In The Death, Man Kills Mankind or Throne Of Thrones. The new album is getting universally praised so that's all the more reason to do at least one more song from it.

Ugly Noise is the name of the new Flostsam & Jetsam album so it's very likely that song was played.

Nice review. Sorry I wasn't able to find you amongst the sea of people. Your text didn't even come through until halfway through Testament. Good for these thrash bands that they packed Emo's on a Tuesday. Bobby Blitz said that the next time they're back they'll play 90 minutes, so possible Overkill headlining tour later this year perhaps?